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Bellarmine University Athletics

Cole Nance
John Sommers II

Wrestling crowns seven in NCWA Regionals at Knights Hall

3/2/2024 8:20:00 PM

By: Conor Mullaney, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Playing as hosts of the NCWA Great Lakes Conference Regional Championships, the Bellarmine University Wrestling team crowned seven champions on Saturday at Knights Hall.
 
The Knights had 11 wrestlers competing in the regional championships in redshirt freshmen Damion Ryan (125), Trayce Eckman (133), Chase Hall (141), Gray Ortis (157), Grant O'Dell (165) and Luke LeClerc (197), redshirt sophomores Zac Cowan (149), Sam Schroeder (184) and Will Mucker (285), sophomore Thadd Huff (285) and junior Cole Nance (174).
 
As a team, Bellarmine finished first, amassing 202 team points on the day, 27 points better than the second-place team.
 
"Today was a fun way to finish our home events this year with our National Qualifying tournament at home," Bellarmine head coach Ned Shuck said. "The guys had a lot of fun and we scored a lot of points."
 
Ryan, Eckman, Cowan, Ortis, O'Dell, Nance and Schroeder were the seven Knights to take first place in their respective divisions. Huff placed second in the heavyweights while Hall took third, LeClerc placed fourth and Muckler placed fifth.
 
In the 125 bracket, Ryan won by tech fall 16-1 over Zack Koenig (Grand Valley State University WC) in the semi-final before taking an 8-5 decision over Shay Horton (Thomas More University) in the championship.
 
Eckman won by fall (1:16) in his semi-final bout against Keelan Mullin (Ferris State University) before winning the championship over Hunter Sproles (Thomas More University) by tech fall, 20-5.
 
Cowan also tallied a fall (2:19) in his semi-final match, topping Roger Bauer (University of Cincinnati) before winning a 5-2 decision over Ryan Moore (Thomas More University) for the championship.
 
In the 157 bracket, Ortis had an extra man to beat, taking down Antwain Williams (University of Toledo) by tech fall, 17-1, in the quarter finals before beating Jake Gooding (Ohio State University WC) via tech fall, 18-3, to advance to the finals where he won a third straight bout via tech fall, defeating Kailan Keith (Thomas More University) 20-4.
 
O'Dell started his championship run with a 19-4 tech fall victory over Liam Schram (Thomas More University) before defeating Ezekiel Burkholder (University of Toledo) via tech fall 18-3 in the finals.
 
Nance, also starting his bid in the quarter finals, won his first match by tech fall, defeating Benjamin Romano (Ohio State University WC) 23-8 before moving on to a win by fall (1:38) over Adam Gluck (Ohio State University WC) in the semi-finals. Nance finished his championship run with a 13-4 major decision victory over Emiliano Saucedo (Iowa State University WC).
 
Schroeder, Bellarmine's final champion of the day, won each of his first two rounds by fall, topping Noah Fuller (Hillsdale College) in 0:43 and Zavier Campsey (Thomas More University) in 1:49 before winning the finals with a 14-11 decision over Graham Carson (Ohio State University WC).
 
"The progress for these men have made has been outstanding," Shuck added. "I can't wait to go to Nationals with them and see what they can do."
 
The Knights will wrap up their season at the NCWA National Championship in Shreveport-Bossier City, La. on Saturday, March 16.
 
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow @BUKnights on X, Instagram and Facebook.
 
125
Damion Ryan (23-12) placed 1st and scored 19.5 team points.
  • Quarterfinal - Damion Ryan (Bellarmine University) 23-12 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Semifinal - Damion Ryan (Bellarmine University) 23-12 won by tech fall over Zack Koenig (Grand Valley State University WC) 11-6 (TF-1.5 3:59 (16-1))
  • 1st Place Match - Damion Ryan (Bellarmine University) 23-12 won by decision over Shay Horton (Thomas More University) 14-9 (Dec 8-5)
133
Trayce Eckman (22-9) placed 1st and scored 21.5 team points.
  • Quarterfinal - Trayce Eckman (Bellarmine University) 22-9 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Semifinal - Trayce Eckman (Bellarmine University) 22-9 won by fall over Keelan Mullin (Ferris State University) 2-6 (Fall 1:16)
  • 1st Place Match - Trayce Eckman (Bellarmine University) 22-9 won by tech fall over Hunter Sproles (Thomas More University) 10-8 (TF-1.5 4:17 (20-5))
141
Chase Hall (9-8) placed 3rd and scored 14.5 team points.
  • Quarterfinal - Chase Hall (Bellarmine University) 9-8 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Semifinal - Cole Thomas (Thomas More University) 15-1 won by fall over Chase Hall (Bellarmine University) 9-8 (Fall 1:54)
  • Cons. Semi - Chase Hall (Bellarmine University) 9-8 won by fall over Thomas Caswell (Ferris State University) 1-7 (Fall 1:11)
  • 3rd Place Match - Chase Hall (Bellarmine University) 9-8 won by fall over Carson Hicks (The Ohio State University WC) 7-5 (Fall 2:55)
149
Zac Cowan (26-10) placed 1st and scored 22.5 team points.
  • Champ. Round 1 - Zac Cowan (Bellarmine University) 26-10 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal - Zac Cowan (Bellarmine University) 26-10 won by fall over Roger Bauer (University of Cincinnati) 3-8 (Fall 2:19)
  • Semifinal - Zac Cowan (Bellarmine University) 26-10 won by tech fall over Hunter Isaacs (Thomas More University) 13-14 (TF-1.5 3:52 (19-0))
  • 1st Place Match - Zac Cowan (Bellarmine University) 26-10 won by decision over Ryan Moore (Thomas More University) 23-6 (Dec 5-2)
157
Gray Ortis (20-10) placed 1st and scored 23.5 team points.
  • Champ. Round 1 - Gray Ortis (Bellarmine University) 20-10 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal - Gray Ortis (Bellarmine University) 20-10 won by tech fall over Antwain Williams (University of Toledo) 6-16 (TF-1.5 4:34 (17-1))
  • Semifinal - Gray Ortis (Bellarmine University) 20-10 won by tech fall over Jake Gooding (The Ohio State University WC) 8-3 (TF-1.5 5:46 (18-3))
  • 1st Place Match - Gray Ortis (Bellarmine University) 20-10 won by tech fall over Kailan Keith (Thomas More University) 25-13 (TF-1.5 4:38 (20-4))
165
Grant O`Dell (28-6) placed 1st and scored 21.0 team points.
  • Quarterfinal - Grant O`Dell (Bellarmine University) 28-6 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Semifinal - Grant O`Dell (Bellarmine University) 28-6 won by tech fall over Liam Schram (Thomas More University) 14-15 (TF-1.5 3:28 (19-4))
  • 1st Place Match - Grant O`Dell (Bellarmine University) 28-6 won by tech fall over Ezekiel Burkholder (University of Toledo) 21-10 (TF-1.5 6:15 (18-3))
174
Cole Nance (25-10) placed 1st and scored 23.5 team points.
  • Champ. Round 1 - Cole Nance (Bellarmine University) 25-10 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal - Cole Nance (Bellarmine University) 25-10 won by tech fall over Benjamin Romano (The Ohio State University WC) 4-3 (TF-1.5 6:51 (23-8))
  • Semifinal - Cole Nance (Bellarmine University) 25-10 won by fall over Adam Gluck (The Ohio State University WC) 9-5 (Fall 1:38)
  • 1st Place Match - Cole Nance (Bellarmine University) 25-10 won by major decision over Emiliano Saucedo (Iowa State University WC) 5-4 (MD 13-4)
184
Sam Schroeder (20-12) placed 1st and scored 22.0 team points.
  • Quarterfinal - Sam Schroeder (Bellarmine University) 20-12 won by fall over Noah Fuller (Hillsdale College) 0-7 (Fall 0:43)
  • Semifinal - Sam Schroeder (Bellarmine University) 20-12 won by fall over Zavier Campsey (Thomas More University) 13-14 (Fall 1:49)
  • 1st Place Match - Sam Schroeder (Bellarmine University) 20-12 won by decision over Graham Carson (The Ohio State University WC) 6-1 (Dec 14-11)
197
Luke Leclerc (3-7) placed 4th and scored 16.5 team points.
  • Champ. Round 1 - Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine University) 3-7 won by fall over Samuel Murray (Ferris State University) 2-6 (Fall 5:57)
  • Quarterfinal - Wade Mettling (Thomas More University) 12-13 won by decision over Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine University) 3-7 (Dec 10-3)
  • Cons. Round 2 - Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine University) 3-7 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Cons. Round 3 - Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine University) 3-7 won by fall over Frederick Scarborough (Thomas More University) 3-5 (Fall 4:30)
  • Cons. Semi - Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine University) 3-7 won by major decision over Zachery Watson (Thomas More University) 9-20 (MD 16-2)
  • 3rd Place Match - Wade Mettling (Thomas More University) 12-13 won by decision over Luke Leclerc (Bellarmine University) 3-7 (Dec 8-3)
285
Will Muckler (14-9) placed 5th.
  • Quarterfinal - Will Muckler (Bellarmine University) 14-9 won by fall over Kevin Machado (University of Dubuque WC) 6-9 (Fall 6:53)
  • Semifinal - Daulton Mayer (Thomas More University) 36-4 won by fall over Will Muckler (Bellarmine University) 14-9 (Fall 0:44)
  • Cons. Semi - Israel Tshiunza (Thomas More University) 6-5 won by major decision over Will Muckler (Bellarmine University) 14-9 (MD 16-8)
  • 5th Place Match - Will Muckler (Bellarmine University) 14-9 won by major decision over Evan Foreman (University of Dubuque WC) 11-7 (MD 8-0)
285
Thadd Huff (25-8) placed 2nd and scored 17.5 team points.
  • Quarterfinal - Thadd Huff (Bellarmine University) 25-8 won by fall over Israel Tshiunza (Thomas More University) 6-5 (Fall 0:18)
  • Semifinal - Thadd Huff (Bellarmine University) 25-8 won by tech fall over Evan Foreman (University of Dubuque WC) 11-7 (TF-1.5 4:26 (19-4))
  • 1st Place Match - Daulton Mayer (Thomas More University) 36-4 won by fall over Thadd Huff (Bellarmine University) 25-8 (Fall 1:53)
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